Life zones and habitat: Foothills and montane. Moist, open or lightly wooded sites.Plant: Perennial 2 to 5 feet tall with thick, rigid leafy stems.Leaves: Large ovate leaves, up to 12 inches long, with pointed tips and prominent central vein and somewhat toothed edges.Inflorescence: One or more large dark brown cone-shaped flower heads up to to 2 inches long, each with 200-500 small disk florets, yellow but turning purplish brown blooming from bottom to top; no ray florets; leafy bracts below.
References: Descr. adapted from www.americansouthwest.net, and "Wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains" by Carl Schreier.